Design for the cupola room at Kensington Palace
Drawing
1722
1722
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This drawing is an unrealised design for the cupola room at Kensington Palace. Thornhill was originally commissioned to carry out this project but his estimate was considered unreasonably high and the commision went to the painter and architect, William Kent (1685-1748). Thornhill inscribed the sheet with a scale, the dimensions and orientation of the design. He drew the design in pen and ink, using wash to accentuate the illusionistic three-dimensionality of the decorative elements. He also added yellow wash to give the impression of gold.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Title | Design for the cupola room at Kensington Palace |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Drawing, Design for the ceiling of the cupola room at Kensington Palace by Sir James Thornhill, pen and ink with wash, 1722 |
| Physical description | Drawing in pen and ink with yellow wash. Design for the cupola room at Kensington Palace. The central panel encloses a foliated boss and is broken at the middle of each side with shell motifs. The middle of the base of each trapezoid panel is broken by pyramidal groups of vases and putti. Thornhill added a scale and dimensions of 36 feet square. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Top: 'For ye Ceiling of Ye Great Room at Kensington'
Top: 'wind side'
Bottom: 'Chimney side' (Inscribed in the artist's hand.) |
| Object history | Provenance: Purchased from W.J Smith in 1891 This drawings came to the museum as part of an album containing drawings and engravings chiefly by Thornhill. The album was dismantled and the works remounted. Thornhill was originally commissioned to paint the cupola room at Kensington Palace but his estimate was considered unreasonably high and the commision went to the painter and architect, William Kent (1685-1748). |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | This drawing is an unrealised design for the cupola room at Kensington Palace. Thornhill was originally commissioned to carry out this project but his estimate was considered unreasonably high and the commision went to the painter and architect, William Kent (1685-1748). Thornhill inscribed the sheet with a scale, the dimensions and orientation of the design. He drew the design in pen and ink, using wash to accentuate the illusionistic three-dimensionality of the decorative elements. He also added yellow wash to give the impression of gold. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | D.22-1891 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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